Postdoctoral Research Associate in Rock Art

This full time, European Research Council funded post is available from 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2024 to support the work of Prof. José Iriarte and Dr. Jamie Hampson.

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.

 The post

You will work on the project entitled LASTJOURNEY ‘The End of the Journey: The Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene Colonisation of South America. This is an international, interdisciplinary project integrating a range of state-of-the-art techniques in archaeology, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, palaeoclimate, ancient DNA to investigate Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene human adaptations and impacts across the diverse landscapes of northwest South America. One of the regions the project is investigating exhibits one of  great rock art traditions of South America  around the world going back to almost thirteen thousand years before the present, and in critical need of more detailed studies.

The post will include conducting rock art research for extended periods in the Colombian Amazon; rock art recording; image analysis; typology; photogrammetry; relative dating of rock art using Harris matrices on superimposed layers of paint; participating and/or directing archaeological excavations at the rock art sites; engaging with local communities; writing archaeological reports and submitting results for publication in several leading international journals; liaising close with the Exeter-based archaeology, archaeobotany and zooarchaeology PDRAs to closely integrate rock art data with archaeological, palaeobotanical, and zooarchaeological data; and assisting with the supervision of undergraduate, MSc and PhD student projects and teaching. The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes and communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically.

About you

You will:

• be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies
• will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study
• be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes
• have a strong rock art research background, in particular typology, Harris matrix analysis, and photogrammetry to create relative chronologies, analyse and interpret rock art

Field experience in archaeology is highly desirable. The candidate will stay for long periods in the Colombian Amazon.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

Further information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Prof. Jose Iriarte, [email protected] or (01392) 724513.